Passenger plane safely lands in New Zealand after fire shuts down engine mid-air

A passenger plane bound for Melbourne in Australia, faced a harrowing mid-flight incident when fire shut down one of the engines of the aircraft. However, the plane managed to make a safe landing according to the nation’s fire service.
The aircraft made an emergency diversion to Invercargill following the engine fire, which occurred approximately 50 minutes after departing from Queenstown.
Fire trucks were promptly deployed to meet the plane upon its arrival in Invercargill.
Lynn Crosson, shift supervisor for Fire and Emergency New Zealand, confirmed the coordinated efforts of emergency responders in meeting the aircraft as it landed safely.
The cause of the engine fire and the number of passengers on board the plane were not immediately known, Queenstown Airport spokesperson Catherine Nind said.

Virgin Australia, in an E-mail, suggested that a possible bird strike may have been the cause of the engine fire.
Queenstown, known for its picturesque alpine vistas and adventure tourism, attracts visitors from around the world.
The rate of birds striking planes at New Zealand’s airports is about four in every 10,000 aircraft movements, the country’s aviation regulator says on its website. The consequences vary in severity depending on where the aircraft is hit, the size of the birds and the pilot’s reaction, the agency says.